Cinema Audio Society Picks "True Grit"

Joel & Ethan Coen's "True Grit" led the winners of the 47th Annual Cinema Audio Society Awards, announced last night in Los Angeles. The film's Sound Mixing Team of roduction Mixer Peter F. Kurland, CAS and Re-recording Mixers Skip Lievsay, CAS, Craig Berkey, CAS and Greg Orloff, CAS won the awards' top prize. It was the third win for Kurland (after "No Country For Old Men" and "Walk The Line"), and second for Lievsay, Berkley and Orloff (who also won for "No Country").

Joel & Ethan Coen's "True Grit" led the winners of the 47th Annual Cinema Audio Society Awards, announced last night in Los Angeles. The film's Sound Mixing Team of roduction Mixer Peter F. Kurland, CAS and Re-recording Mixers Skip Lievsay, CAS, Craig Berkey, CAS and Greg Orloff, CAS won the awards' top prize. It was the third win for Kurland (after "No Country For Old Men" and "Walk The Line"), and second for Lievsay, Berkley and Orloff (who also won for "No Country").

Check out the press release below, and of all the announced awards so far this year here.

Los Angeles –The Millennium Biltmore Hotel was the site for the 47th Annual CAS Awards Dinner this evening as the organization bestowed the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture to TRUE GRIT and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixer Peter F. Kurland, CAS and Re-recording Mixers Skip Lievsay, CAS, Craig Berkey, CAS and Greg Orloff, CAS. This is the third CAS win for Kurland who previously won for No Country for Old Men and Walk the Line. This is the second CAS win for Lievsay, Berkey and Orloff who won previously for No Country for Old Men.

During the ceremony, Jeffrey S. Wexler, CAS, was honored with the CAS Career Achievement Award presented by Tomlinson Holman, CAS, the developer of the THX system and Oscar® winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, ASC. During the presentation Holman remarked than nearly 40 years ago he served as Wexler’s boom operator, uncredited, on Wexler’s first film Cool Breeze. The presentation was touching as father and son shared the stage in what can best be described as a moment of pride and accomplishment.

Taylor Hackford, DGA President was presented with the CAS Filmmaker Award by four time Oscar® winner Scott Millan, CAS who had teamed with Hackford on Ray, and recent DGA Award Winner and Oscar® Nominee Tom Hooper helmer of The King’s Speech. Hooper, who flew in from London earlier in the evening to be part of the honors for Hackford, was heartfelt in his remarks about Hackford’s remarkable career and related the story that it was Hackford who introduced him to the DGA and when he told him that DGA members got a 10 week director’s cut as opposed to the two week he just had on a film, he saw the importance of the organization for directors. Hackford’s remarks included his thanks to Hooper for being there and special mention, by name, of the many sound professionals he has worked with over the years.

Other winners this evening included:

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Movie or Mini-Series:

TEMPLE GRANDIN and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixer Ethan Andrus and Re-recording Mixer Rick Ash. This is Ash’s fourth CAS win in this category having won previously for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Lackawanna Blues and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Non Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials: Deadliest Catch: Redemption Day and Re-recording Mixer Bob Bronow, CAS. This is the third CAS win for Bronow and Deadliest Catch in this category.

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for DVD Original Programming:

30 Days of Night: Dark Days and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixer Michael Williamson, CAS and Eric Lalicata, CAS. This is Williamson’s first CAS win having been previously nominated three times by the CAS.